Combustion Reactions

This toilet paper is being destroyed. Or is it? What is

happening to the paper particles here?
 Date:
LI: To learn about the process of combustion and the
requirements for it to happen.

Success Criteria
1. Knowledge: I can define what is meant by “combustion”.
2. Understanding: I can describe what is meant by the fire
triangle and how it is used to help stop fires.
3. Evaluating: I can write a balanced chemical equation for
the complete combustion of fuels when given their
chemical formula.
 Fact of the Day
The Darvaza gas crater, nicknamed the Gates of Hell, is a crater in
Turkmenistan which has been burning non-stop since the 1980s. It is
located over a natural gas reserve, which fuels hundreds of small fires
inside.
 Recap Questions
1. State four signs of a chemical reaction.
2. Identify the word equation for the neutralization reaction
between an acid and an alkali.
3. Describe what is meant by the term “decomposition
reaction”.
 Answers
1. Four signs of a chemical reaction:
• Gas production
• Precipitate formation
• Color change
• Temperature change
2. Word equation for neutralization reaction: Acid + Alkali → Salt +
Water
3. Decomposition reaction: A reaction where a compound breaks
down into simpler substances. Example: AB → A + B
 Demonstration
Watch this process here and using your knowledge of
particles, energy and chemical bonds, try to describe what is
happening here.
 Burning
When something burns, the atoms in the substance react with the
oxygen in the air. This is a chemical reaction, so new products are
made. The total number and mass of atoms remains exactly the same.
 Combustion
Combustion is a chemical reaction that happens when a
substance combines with oxygen and releases energy in the
form of light and heat.
 Fire Triangle
The three elements of the fire
triangle are fuel, heat, and oxygen.
All three are necessary to start and
maintain a fire. If one of them is
removed then the fire will
extinguish (go out).
 Fuel
Fuel is a substance that can be burned to produce heat or
power. Examples include wood, gasoline, and natural gas.
 Heat
Heat is the energy source that starts the combustion process.
Heat provides the energy required to start breaking the
chemical bonds in the fuel, allowing them to react with
oxygen.
 Oxygen
Oxygen is a reactive, colourless gas that supports the combustion
process. It makes up about 21% of the Earth's atmosphere. If there is
no oxygen, there can be no fire since the fire triangle is broken.
 Apparatus
Candle
Matches/lighter
Glass jar
Plate
 Method
1. Place the candle on a plate in a safe and open space.
2. Light the candle using a match or lighter.
3. Carefully cover the lit candle with the glass jar, ensuring it
is sealed.
4. Observe the flame to diminish and eventually extinguish
inside the jar.
 Combustion General Equation
When fuel burns in the presence of oxygen, it forms new
substances like carbon dioxide (CO ₂) and water (H ₂O). This
is a chemical reaction.

Fuel + Oxygen  Carbon Dioxide + Water ( + Energy )

 Balancing Chemical Equations
In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms for each
element is the same on both sides of the equation.
You can change the number of atoms on each side by adding a
coefficient (big number), but you can’t change the subscript (small
number).
 Visualising Balanced Equations
This diagram shows carbon as the black atom, hydrogen is
the white colour, and oxygen is the red colour.

CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O

 Balancing Combustion Reactions
Complete combustion is when a fuel is burned to produce
only carbon dioxide and water. Use this information to
balance chemical equations for the complete combustion of
the fuels below:

Propane (C3H8)
Octane (C8H18)
Glucose (C6H12O6)
 Answers
Propane (C3H8)
C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O

Octane (C8H18)
2C8H18 + 25O2 → 16CO2 + 18H2O

Glucose (C6H12O6)
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O
 Apparatus
Oldest Partner Youngest Partner
1. Test tubes (One hydrogen 1. Lime water
and one oxygen per group, 2. Wooden splint
plus an empty one)
3. Straw
2. Bunsen burner
3. Splint
4. Funnel
 Method
1. Add some limewater into a test tube using a funnel.
2. Place one end of the straw below the surface and exhale into it until you see
bubbles forming. Be careful not to accidentally inhale during this process.
3. Record your observations.
4. Take a test tube marked oxygen which is sealed with a stopper.
5. Light the wooden splint with the Bunsen burner, and then blow the flame out.
6. Place the glowing splint into the test tube of oxygen and then record your
observations.
7. Take a test tube filled with hydrogen and remove the stopper.
8. Relight the wooden splint and place it inside the hydrogen test tube. Record
your observations.
 Testing for Hydrogen
A lit splint (burning) is held to the mouth of a test tube. The hydrogen
explodes with a squeaky pop.
The hydrogen combines explosively with oxygen in the air to make
water.
2H2 (g) + O2 (g)  2H2O (l)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VonvhSzhR4&ab_channel=ChemJungle
 Testing for Oxygen
A glowing splint is put into the tube containing the gas.
Oxygen relights a glowing splint.
 Testing for Carbon Dioxide Gas
The carbon dioxide is bubbled through limewater. Carbon dioxide
turns limewater milky/chalky/cloudy.
Limewater is calcium hydroxide solution. Carbon dioxide reacts with
it to form a white precipitate of calcium carbonate.
Ca(OH)2 (aq) + CO2 (g)  CaCO3 (s) + H2O (l)
 Apparatus
Oldest Partner Youngest Partner
1. Ethanol 1. Matches/lighter
2. Copper can 2. Clamp stand
3. Thermometer 3. Stopwatch
4. Balance 4. Safety goggles
5. Water
 Method
1. Measure and record the mass of the empty copper can.
2. Pour a known mass of ethanol into the can.
3. Place the can on a clamp stand.
4. Measure and record the initial temperature of the water in the can.
5. Use a lighter or matches to ignite the ethanol in the can.
6. After the ethanol has burned completely, measure and record the final temperature
of the water.
7. Calculate the temperature change of the water.
8. Calculate the energy released using the formula: Energy = mass of water ×
specific heat capacity of water × temperature change.
9. Divide the energy released by the mass of ethanol burned to find the energy
released per gram of ethanol.
 Simulation
You can use the game mode on this simulation to practice balancing
chemical equations. This simulation can be helpful since it actually
shows you the atoms involved in the reactions:
https://
phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balancing-chemical-equations/latest/balan
cing-chemical-equations_en.html
 Extension Task

The internal combustion engine

was one of the most important
inventions in human history. How
does one work, and what have
been the impacts on history and
human life caused by the
combustion engine?
 Summary Questions
1. Name the three elements of the fire triangle.
2. Explain why a fire needs heat to continue burning.
 Answers
1. Fuel, Heat and Oxygen
2. Heat is the energy that helps maintain the
combustion reaction.
 Key Terms
Chemical Reaction: A process where substances change to make new
materials.
Coefficient: A small number used to show how many molecules take
part in a reaction.
Combustion: When something burns in the air and releases heat and
light.
Chemical Bond: The force that holds atoms together in a compound.
Extinguish: To make a fire go out.
Fire Triangle: The three things needed for fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen.
 Key Terms
Fuel: Anything that can be burned to provide heat or power.
Heat: The energy that makes things warm or hot.
Maintain: To keep something going, such as a fire or a process.
Presence: The state of being in a particular place.
Product: What is made in a chemical reaction.
Subscript: A small number written after and below a chemical symbol
to show how many atoms are in a molecule.
 “Mr Luke, I Wasn’t Here When We Did This”
Combustion Reactions – Whoosh Bottle Demo [1:28]: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsGAy8UXbDQ
What is Fire? [3:38]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMDKeBaLWDw
GCSE Core Practical – Investigating Combustion of Alcohols [5:03]: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH3mSXmYumE
The Fire Triangle [3:34]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBOK5chzldo
Testing for Gases [5:34]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_gPlbExHv0
 Test Your Knowledge
See how well you’ve mastered this lesson on combustion by
using the link below:
https://www.gimkit.com/view/65d549371abb77002c05d8d9
 Success Criteria
Knowledge: I can define what is meant by “combustion”.

Understanding: I can describe what is meant by the fire

triangle and how it is used to help stop fires.

Evaluating: I can write a balanced chemical equation for

the complete combustion of fuels when given their
chemical formula.
Question
 Answer
Liquid water, after the water vapour had cooled back down
due to the presence of the ice.
Question
 Answer
Combustion reaction
Question
 Answer
Octane + Oxygen  Carbon dioxide + Water
Question
 Answer
a) Wood
b) 30 kJ
Question
 Answer
Carbon, Hydrogen or Sulfur

Note – We cannot know for sure that oxygen is found in coal,

since the oxygen in the products could also have came from
the atmosphere during the combustion reaction.
Question
 Answer
Water